Yemen to get over $3 bn Saudi Arabian aid

Sana`a: Saudi Arabia has announced to give over USD 3 billion aid to its unrest-ridden neighbour Yemen for developmental works, according to official SABA news agency.

During "the Friends of Yemen" meet held on Wednesday in Riyadh city, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal said the kingdom of Saudi Arabia "pledges USD 3.25 billion to aid Yemen in its development process", reported Xinhua.

In the meeting, attended by representatives of 42 donor countries, another USD 1 billion aid was expected to be announced to help Yemen overcome political, security and economic challenges.

The meeting, the third of its kind in three years, aimed to help maintain the stability of Yemen and support its government to fight the resurgent Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP).

Yemen witnessed a year of popular protests, forcing the long-time leader Ali Abdullah Saleh out of power.

Under a Saudi-led Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) deal backed by the UN, Saleh`s deputy Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi was later elected as the new President in February for a two-year transitional term.